The figure of man in the English literature

The Anglo - Saxon period → Epic Poetry

(paganism)

The Middle Ages → Ballads (Christianity)

Renaissance → Sonnets(human being → centre)

Shakespeare

Text: Beowulf

Kind of man: the hero

Characterization

ValuesValues- Loyalty - Courage - Generosity

QualitiesQualities

- Power- Uniqueness- Strength Qualities to become a hero- to die for your ideas Language used- use of positive connotations (adjectives that underline he is unique ) - use of alitterations - simple language

Text: Lord Randal

Kind of man lord (aristocrat) son (overprotected by his mother)

Activity hunting

Quality moral integrity (tempted by the woman) Language use of alitteration use of repetition simple language

Text: sonnets

Kind of man - corteous man (aristocrat)

Characterization - he loves a woman represents desire - he uses the lady to reach God

Language - refined language

↓sonnets

↓ addressed to intellectuals

↓

written at court (the place of culture)

TextShakespearian sonnet

Kind of man corteous man

Characterization a man with the features of the corteous code

(fair hair and eyes, beautiful) loves an unusual woman

↓dark hair and eye

ordinary

Language refined language

The relationship with God influenced literature

In the anglo-saxon period the religion didn’t influence letterature because there was the paganism, a pragmatic religion. People prayed God only for necessity.

In Beowulf people thanked God for that easy crossing on a calm sea

The Middle Ages priviledged the religious code: all people actions were aimed at reaching God.

In the ballad the woman was a tempter for man’s integrity and he couldn’t reach God.

In the Renaissance developed the study of human being instead God

The sonneteer wrote about some physical woman’s characters